Crowding and racking-in mechanism for excavator cranes



Feb. 28, 1933. s, N NICKLIS' 1,899,901

GROWDING AND RACKING IN MECHANISM FOR EXGAVATOR CRANES Filed March 29,1932 9 s Sheets-Shet 1 Inventor flliorney Feb. 28, 1933. s. N. NICKLISSCROWDING AND RACKING IN MECHANISM FOR EKCAVATOR CEANES Filed March 29.1932 s Sheets-Sheet 5 if aizen EEK/222153 liomey Inventor Patented Feb.28, 1933 UNITED, STATES STEPHEN N.

onownme AND RAo'xiNG-m MECHANISM non ExoAvAroa cnAniis Application filedMarch 29, 1932. Serial No. 601,820.

This invention'relates to improvements in excavator cranes and-moreparticularly to the crowding and racking in mechanism and r apparatus ofsuch cranes.

In accordance with the present invention, while the crowding and'rackingin mechanism and apparatus is well adapted for embodiment in a powershovel, it is also adapted for universal use, and especially, and inaddition to the shovel type of locomotive or portable crane will befound efficient as" a part of the equipment of the other two mainclasses into which cranes of the locomotive or portable type as commonlyused today i may be divided, namely those for clam shell work andsecondly drag. line excavating cranes.

The crowding and racking in mechanism designed for direct drive from themotor and characterized by a speclal planetary drive gearing and clutchmechanism-where by high and low speed of drum drive may be obtained forcrowding out or projecting the dipper stick of a shovel, and a reversedrive'for racking in said stick as necessary for shovel operations.

Briefly then the invention consists primarily in the provision of areversible combine-d crowding andracking in mechanism characterized by atwo speed drive and receiving its power direct from the motor wherebymaximum digging power is obtained with minimum waste of motor power.Further, in accordance with the present invention excessive clutches andgearing are eliminated, the crowding and racking'in of the dipper stickis simplified, the slipping of clutches is overcome, and in general anincrease in power and efficiency of the crane is obtained.

The invention together with its numerous objects and advantages'will bebest understood from a study of the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is afragmentarysectionalelevational view illustrating the application of thecrowding and racking mechanism .spectivelyof Figure '1. '5. V I v :Figure dis a sectional elevational view mechanism therefor..

and apparatus of the present invention is i and apparatus as 'partof theequipment of a power/shovel. p I i Figures 2 and 3 are sectional viewstaken substantially on the lines ,22 and 33 reure 2; I v,

- Figure 5 1s a SGCtl nal elevatlonal view showing a brake and a takensubstantially on the line 4.4'of Fig- Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottomplan vView for illustrating certain parts of the crowding and racking incontrol.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elcvational view showing in sideelevation a clutch control lever and brake control pedal respectively.

Figure Sis a fragmentary elevational View ing in mechanism and othersuch parts of the power shovel with whlch the present inventlon isconcerned. V

In the present'embodiment the invention is shownas applied to aconventional power shovel which includes among other parts a platform, aportion of which is shown in the drawings and designated by thereference character 1; a boom designated by the ref erence character'6and pivoted at its lower end'to the platform 1 in the usual manner; a

dipper stick 7 which is provided with and carries a shovel or bucket 8in the usual manner, a shipper deviceidesigna'ted generally bythereference character 9 crowding and racking in cables 10 and 11respectively passing under the usual fleeting sheaves-12; and passingupwardly to the operating drum 13 of the crowding. and racking inmechanism embodying the features of this invention.

The structure as above set out is :conventional equipment of thelocomotive or portable shovel type crane which employs a dipper arm andbucket equipment andis commonl known as a power shovel. t

In accordance with the present, invention the operating drum 13 is looseon a shaft 14 journalled in bearings 15 provided on relatively spacedopposed supports 16 risingfrom the platform 1; a

portion of the control "PATENT OFVFICEITY."

NICKLISS, 0F LAURELDALE, PENNSYlZ-VANIA, ASSIGNOR oFoNE- ALF i TOrEMrLEsLAG COMPANY, OF TEMPLE, PENNSYLVANIA Tin on a reduced scale ofthe crowding and rack- L 9 The drum 13 is arranged on shaft 14 betweengears 17 18; gear 17 being loose on shaft 14 and gear 18 being fast onsaid shaft as indicated at 18.

The gears 17 and 18 form part of a driving means for the drum 13enabling it to be reversibly actuated, and also to be actuated at variedspeeds in accord with the demands of the work, which driving means inaccordance with the present invention includes certain planetary gearingrepresenting an important feature of this invention.

The planetary gearing includes an internal gear 19 suitably provided onone side of the floating gear 17, and the internal gear 19 meshes withidler planetary gears 20 supported on a proximate side of the drum 13 bymeans of the bearing pins 21. The idler gears 20 mesh with the inner orcentral driving gear 22 which is keyed to the shaft 14 so that itrevolves with the gear 18 that is also keyed on the shaft 14 as beforementioned.

The gear 18 is in mesh with a pinion 23 made fast to the end of the hub24 of a high speed gear 25 loose on a counter shaft 26 suitablyjournalled in bearings 15 provided on the standards or supports 16forwardly of shaft 14 and in a plane below said shaft 14. To operativelyconnect the gear 25 with the shaft 26 a friction clutch 27,conventionally illustrated in the drawings is employed.

A power shaft designated by the reference character 28 is suitablymounted between the support or standards 16 and is provided adjacent oneend with a driving gear 29 meshing with the gear 25. Shaft 28 is drivenfrom a suitable motor through a chain and sprocket drive or othersuitable mechanism (not shown). The gear 17 is in mesh with a pinion 29keyed on shaft 26 and provided with a brake drum 30 about which isdisposed a brake band 31. Brake band 31 has one end thereof engaged witha rock shaft 32 as at 33 and the other end thereof engaged with one endof a rod 34 that in turn is engaged as at 35 with an arm 36 fast onshaft 32. Shaft 32 adjacent one end thereof is provided with an arm 37that is connected through the medium of a link 38 with a pedal 39pivotally mounted on'the platform 1 as at 40. Suitable spring. means 41is provided for normally retaining the pedal 39 in a raised position orin the position shown in Figure 7, and consequently the band 31 looseabout the drum 30.

A gear 42 is loose on shaft 26 and meshes with another gear 44a which inturn meshes with a gear 43 on shaft 28. To operatively connect the gear42 with the shaft 26 a conventional friction clutch 44 similar to theclutch 27 is provided.

For controlling the clutches 27, 44, there is provided on shaft 26 foreach clutch a sliding collar 45, with which are engaged forks 46provided on the ends of a shiftable rod 47 that is slidably mounted andextends transversely of platform 1.

For shifting rod 47 there is provided a suitably mounted bell crank 48one end of which is forked and engages a pin 49 on rod 47. The other endof the bell crank 48 is pivotally connected through the medium of a link50 with a hand lever 51 that is pivotally mounted on the platform 1 asat 52.

In operation, and from the description of the invention'thus far, itwill be seen that a turning of the drum 13 in one direction will compela crowding out of the dipper 7, and a reverse turning of the drum 13will effecta racking in of the dipper. A turning of the drum 13 in acounter-clockwise direction will cause the crowding out of the dipper 7and for this purpose a high speed drive for the drum 13 as well as a lowspeed of drum drive may be obtained as desired; a high speed drive beingsecuredby shifting lever 51to the left in Figures 7 and 8 respectivelycausing a shifting of rod 47 from the top to the bottom of Figure 6 torender clutch 27 active and obtaining a drive through gears 29, 25, 23,gear 18, shaft 14, gearv 22 meshing with the idler planetary gears 20,and under these conditions gear 17 being loose on shaft 14 and beingdriven by gear 295 rotates drum 13 at speed equal to speed of shaft 14which is a relatively high speed. To secure low speed lever 51 remainsin neutral or normal position, and pedal 39 is depressed for drawing thebrake band 31 into frictional engagement with the drum 30 whereuponshaft 26 and gear 296 will be held against rotation as will also gear 17and under these conditions of course gear 25 continuing to revolve byreason of beinginv mesh with gear 29' on the motor driven shaft 28 theidler gears 20 continue to rotate and transmit movement from the shaft14 to the drum 13 so that the latter is then driven at a relatively lowspeed, i. e. at a speed lower than speed of shaft 14.

Reverse drive for drum 13 to compel a racking in of the dipper stick 7is secured by shifting lever 51 to the right in Figures 7 and 8, causinga reverse shifting movement of the rod 47 thereby rendering activeclutch 4 44, so that drive, (clutch 27 being now inactive as also brake30) is obtained through gear 43, idle gear 44a, and gears 42, 29b, andgear 17, driving gear 19 and pini-ons 20 moving in a clockwise directionwith gear 22 revolving in a counter-clockwise direction whereby the drum13 rotates in a clockwise direction, to compel a racking-in of thedipper stick at a relatively high speed.

From the foregoingit will be evident that the special feature of thisinvention is of course the provision of a simplified change speed drivegearing intermediate the engine shaft (not shown) and the drum 13 ofthepower shovel whereby the drum is operable in reverse directions, onedirection for crowding out, and the opposite direction for racking inthe dipper. It will be also understood that the present inventionprovides for the use of the planetary gearing for obtaining reversemovement of the drum in efliecting a racking in of the dipper while atthe same time the number of clutches employed is at a minimum; further achange from ahigh to a low speed or vice versa during actual crowdingoperation may be effected, and also the clutches being easily engaged ordisgaged while the crane is in actual use thereby permitting theoperator to change from a crowding out to a racking in operation withease and facility, without excessive strain on the clutches and withoutslipping of the clutches or excessive labor or strain on the part of theoperator, all of which renders the present invention advantageous overknown cranes in use today. The organization also provides for a directdrive from the motor, and by use of the planetary gearing a reduction ofone half or more of the original op erating speed of the crowd may beeffected to thereby develop tremendous digging power.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof my invention I am aware that in actual practice changes may beresorted'to without departing from the spirit of the invention andaccordingly I claim all such forms of the invention to which I amentitled in view of the prior art and scope of the appended. claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An excavator crane comprising in combination, a main operating drum,and means for operating the drum in one direction at variable speeds andin the opposite direction at one speed, and including a shaft on whichsaid drum is loosely mounted, a gear on said shaft adjacent each end ofsaid drum, one of said gears being fast and the other of said gearsbeing loose relative to the shaft, a counter shaft, a gear loose on thecounter shaft and meshing with the gear fast on the first named shaft, asecond gear fast on said counter shaft and meshing with the gear looseon the first named shaft, a brake operatively associated with the gearfast on said counter shaft, clutch control means for driving saidcounter shaft, means for driving the said gear loose on said countershaft, means for clutching the last mentioned gear to said countershaft, and planetary gearing for driving said drum from the first namedshaft at variable speeds in one direction and at one speed in theopposite direction.

2. In a crowding out and racking in mechanism for a crane, a rotaryshaft, a gear fast on the shaft, a second gear spaced from the firstgear and loose on said shaft, a drum loose on said shaft between saidgears, a counter shaft, a pinion loose on the counter shaft and meshingwith the first gear'on the rotary' shaft, a clutch for connecting thepinion in driving relation with the counter shaft, a planetary gearingconnection between the second gear and the-drum, a second'pinion fast onthe counter'shaft and meshing with said second gear, brake means for thecounter shaft andcooperative with the second pinion to retard saidsecondgear for effecting rotation of said drum at a speed reduced fromthe speed of the rotary shaft; driving means for the counter shaftincluding driven gears loose on the counter shaft, clutch means forconnecting the driven gears in driving rela' tionwith the counter shaftand means for simultaneously operating the clutches for controlling thedirection of rotation of said drum. 3. In a power crane, a dipper stick,and av crowding out and racking in apparatus for the stick including arotary shaft, a drum loose on the rotary shaft, cable means windable inopposite directions on the drum and connected with the stick, a gearfast on the rotary shaft adjacent one end of the drum, asecond gearloose on the shaft adjacent the other end of the drum,'a planetarygearing connection between the second gear and the drum, a countershaft, driven gears loosely mounted on the counter shaft, a pinionconnected with one of said driven-gears and meshing with the gear faston the rotary shaft, a second pinion fast on the counter shaft andmeshing with the second gear on the rotary shaft, a brake connected withsaid second pinion, and means for selectively connecting the drivencounter shaft gears in driving relation with the counter shaft.

4. In a device of the character described,

a driven member, a driven shaft, a planetary 7 gearing connectionbetween the driven member and the driven shaft including a gear upon thedriven shaft, a second gear fast on the driven shaft, a counter shaft,driven gears loosely mounted upon the counter shaft, a pinion connectedwith one" of the counter shaft gears and meshing with the second drivenshaft gear, asecond pinion fast on the counter shaft and meshing withthe first named driven shaft gear, brake means connected with the secondpinion for retarding rotation of the counter shaft and causing reducedrotation of said driven member by said planetary gearing, and clutchmeans for selectively connecting the driven counter" shaft gears indriving relation with the counter shaft.

5. In a crane of the class described, a platform, a boom pivotallymounted thereon, a dipper stick mounted upon the boom, ship-' permechanism mounted onthe boom for crowding out and racking in the dipperstick, a driven shaft mounted on the platform, a reversible drum looselymounted on the shaft for actuating the shipper mechanism, cable meanswinding in opposite directions about i the reversible drums andconnected with the shipper mechanism tooperate the dipper stick, a gearloose on the driven shaft, a second gear fast to the driven shaft, acounter shaft, driven gears loosely mounted upon the counter shaft,pinions on the counter shaft meshing with the driven shaft gears, one ofsaid pinions being fast to the counter shaft and another of said pinionsbeing loose on the counter shaft and connected with one of the drivengears of the counter shaft, brake means for retarding rotation of thecounter shaft, a planetary gearing connection between the second gearloose on the driven shaft and said drum for rotating the latter at aspeed reduced from the speed of the driven shaft when the rotation ofthe counter shaft is retarded, and for rotating the drum at a high speedin a reverse. direction, and means for selectively connecting the drivengears on the counter shaft in driving relation with the counter sh aftfor controlling the direction of rotation of the drum.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a driven shaft, a reversibledriven member, a counter shaft, gearing connecting said driven shaft,driven member, and said counter shaft including fast and loose gearsrespectively on the driven shaft, loose and fast-pinions respectively onthe counter shaft meshing with the driven shaft gears, a planetarygearing connection between the gear loose on the driven shaft and saiddriven member, brake means for retarding rotation of the counter shaftto cause reduced rotation of the driven member by said planetarygearing, a driven gear loosely mounted on said counter shaft andconnected with the loose pinion, a second driven gear loosely mounted onsaid counter shaft, a clutch for eachdriven gear for connecting it indriving relation with the counter shaft, and means for simultaneouslyoperating the clutches to change the direction of rotation of the drivenmember.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

' STEPHEN N. NICKLISS.

